From the moment This Is Us came into our lives back in late 2016, we knew the episodes would be leading up to an emotional reckoning with the death of the Pearson family patriarch, Jack. According to its star, Milo Ventimiglia, that time is nearly upon us, with Jack’s big death reveal set to occur “very, very, very, very soon,” as he revealed to US Weekly.

The actor is warning fans to brace themselves for the revelation of his character’s demise, which he himself has known about from day one. “I imagine that this one is going to hurt,” he cautioned the mag’s readers. “In the short amount of time, people have really grown to love Jack. And Jack and Rebecca and the family and the kids, the adult big three. And I think this is just one of those moments where you know it’s on the way. And it’s going to sting. It’s going to hurt.” he confessed. “But I think ultimately, hopefully, people can accept and hold the memory of Jack with a full heart and move that into their lives.”

Ventimiglia also says it will come as a shock. Despite the many (and wild!) theories that viewers have come up with regarding Jack’s passing, and even some “big clues” from co-star Sterling K. Brown, the 40-year-old doesn’t believe anyone’s actually caught on to the plotline.

“I think people have seen what’s contributed to his death, possibly,” he said. “But no, no one’s guessed it yet.”

When asked if it related to the substance abuse issues we began to see surfacing on the show back in September, he replied, “Maybe. Sure. Maybe not. Sure… I am happy to know audiences are thinking about it and wondering, but I keep telling everyone, ‘Just wait.’ The answers will be here very, very, very, very, very soon.”

Luckily, when the time DOES come, the Devil’s Gate star will be here for his fans, telling the outlet that should he run into anyone on the street, he’ll be open for hugs.

We’ll definitely be taking you up on that, Milo!

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